Vending machine for dispensing cans &amp; bottles with elevator assembly

ABSTRACT

An improved vending machine having a plurality of racks therein for dispensing products is disclosed. Each rack within such vending machine comprises a vertical, rectilinear, product dispensing channel equipped with an elevator assembly for support of product and means for elevating said support within said channel in response to consumer demand for the product. The preferred elevator assembly of this invention comprises a product cradle of unique design, which design imparts improved stability of the cradle within the channel and simplified operation as to the number and type of springs needed to effect its upward movement within the vertical channel of the dispensing rack. The unique angular slope of the cradle permits presentation of a product selection at the open end of the rack in a manner to facilitate removal of such product by a consumer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an article of manufacture. More specifically, this invention is directed to an improvement in vending machines designed for the storage and dispensing of containers, preferably beverage containers in the form of cans or bottles.

[0003] 2. Background of Invention

[0004] Vending machines generally, and beverage vending machines, in particular, are of two basic designs and include a product storage cabinet (with or without refrigeration). These two basis designs include:

[0005] (a) Means for gravity-feeding product dispensers, wherein the containers are positioned above the dispensing window and incrementally released so as to effect dispensing thereof, or, alternatively,

[0006] (b) Means for elevator-feeding product dispensers, wherein the containers are loaded upon a platform disposed within a storage channel that is inclined from the horizontal, the platform is advanced upwardly, relative to the horizontal plane and within the storage channel. In this latter configuration, the incremental release or displacement of the contents from the top of the storage channel discharges the contents of the storage channel through a dispensing window in much the same manner as the gravity fed systems.

[0007] In each instance, the vending machines also generally include means to maintain the containers in an ordered array and means to displace such containers from such ordered array, in response to a customer selection. Because the containers (other than cans) generally have a characteristic shaped indicative of a trade dress or design, their retention within the vending machine, specifically, within vertical storage channels, can present difficulties and challenges.

[0008] The following patents are representative of the art in each of these two systems: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,813,569; 6,112,943; 6,199,720; 6,230,908; and 6,253,954. Each of these patents is discussed in order of its date of issue and, thus, no significance is to be attached to the priority assigned to the review and discussion.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,569 (to Cihanek, issued Sep. 29, 1998) discloses a point-of-sale cabinet for merchandising products (e.g. packages of cigarettes) adjacent a cashier counter. The cabinet includes a housing having a top opening and a product dispensing rack disposed upright in the housing. The dispensing rack is positioned in the housing so that products supported thereon are accessible through the top opening. The dispensing rack has a bottom surface and includes a plurality of base plates and vertical guides. Each base plate is configured to support a plurality of vertically stacked products disposed thereon. The dispensing rack further includes a plurality of biasing members disposed between the base plates and the bottom surface of the dispensing rack for urging the base plates upwardly along a vertical path defined by the vertical guides so that each of the vertically stacked products may be sequentially accessed through the top opening of the housing. More specifically, a retainer flange partially extends over the top opening of each vertical stack to retain the vertically stacked products within the merchandiser until the merchant or customer removes the top product from the stack.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,943 (to Lauer, issued Sep. 5, 2000) discloses a method of vending bottles from a vending machine in which a plurality of bottles is supported at a top portion of the bottle in the slot in an inclined dispensing rack. The inclined dispensing rack is provided with a pivotable gating member which is selectively engagable with a locking member, so as to control the sequential movement of bottles to be vended through the slot in the inclined dispensing rack. Upon engagement of the locking member with the gating member to lock the gating member in the first position, the gating member engages with the top portion of the next bottle to be vended to block movement of the next bottle to be vended to the opening at one end of the slot. Upon disengagement of the locking member from the gating member, the gating member releases and allows the gating member to pivot in a first direction to a second position under the influence of the top portion of the next bottle. The next bottle thus slides, under the influence of gravity, in a downwardly direction through the slots to the opening at one end thereof.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,720 (to Rudick, et al., issued Mar. 13, 2001) discloses a vending machine with a cabinet having a plurality of inclined, vertically spaced shelves. The shelves are able to selectively feed a beverage container to an elevator which is located adjacent an interior, right side wall of the cabinet of vending machine. A beverage container is dispensed by an escapement block of a shelf onto the elevator. The elevator vertically moves the beverage container, and then dispenses the beverage container to a delivery mechanism which gently lowers the beverage container to a delivery port which communicates with the exterior of the vending machine. The shelves in the cabinet are readily reconfigurable such that their vertical spacing within the cabinet can be easily altered. The escapement blocks of the shelves are mechanically activated to dispense a beverage container by an activation device on the elevator.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,908 (to Sloan, issued May 15, 2001) discloses a gravity flow rack including a frame with a plurality of elongated channels attached to the frame. Each channel includes two spaced apart sides and a base wall extending between the sides. A plurality of rollers is movably mounted in each one of the channels. A portion of each roller extends above the respective channel at a first height. A reverse flow stop is pivotally mounted within each channel for movement between a stop position and a flow position. Each stop includes a stop arm. A weighted portion is attached to each stop for automatically biasing each stop to the stop position whereby the respective stop arm extends above the respective channel at a second height, greater than the first height. When the stop is in the flow position, the stop arm extends above the channel at a height equal to or less than the first height.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,954 (to Yasaka, issued Jul. 3, 2001) discloses a storage/dispensing device for a vending machine. Each article rack for storing articles has an article passage for storing the articles in a horizontal row, and a dispensing opening formed at one end of the article passage for dispensing the articles. Each article-dispensing mechanism is provided for the corresponding article rack in a manner movable between a dispensing position and a holding position. A single drive source causes each article-dispensing mechanism to move between the dispensing position and the holding position. In one of the preferred embodiment of the Yasaka device, a base plate stopper is immovably mounted or set with respect to the article rack, the base plate abuts against the base plate stopper when it has moved to the dispensing position, whereby the base plate is positively inhibited from further advancing. This base plate stopper can be selectively mounted at any one of a plurality of mounting positions arranged in the horizontal direction, so that it is possible to change the stroke of the base plate between the standby position and the dispensing position, as required, according to the depth of each article to be dispensed. In another of the preferred Yasaka devices, the article storage/dispensing device further includes a gate for closing the dispensing opening to thereby hold the plurality of articles between the stopper and itself when the vending machine is in the standby state ready for vending the articles, and opening the dispensing opening during the vending operation of the vending machine for vending the articles.

[0014] As is evident from the abbreviated review of the prior art, the dispensing of products, including specifically, beverage containers of all kinds, contemplates either a mechanical or gravity assisted drive mechanism to incrementally feed containers from within the vending machine to a dispensing portal. In certain instances, the product is retrieved manually from the rack containing the selected product or ejected from such rack whereupon it arrives at a dispensing portal of the vending machine. In virtually all instances, the product feed within the rack is maintained in place (stored) until requested by a mechanical gate or stop. In the representative beverage dispensing vending machines described above, such gate or stop requires mechanical or electrical energy to free a stored product selection from a rack within the vending machine to allow for dispensing to a customer. Moreover, the relative complexity in such mechanisms and the controls for such mechanisms necessarily increases both cost, complexity and service related problems associated with their design and use. Accordingly, there continues to exist a need for improvement in such vending machines, specifically, in the simplification of such vending machines to both reduce their cost and improve their reliability.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0015] It is the object of this invention to remedy the above as well as related deficiencies in the prior art.

[0016] More specifically, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved vending machine for dispensing containers, including beverage containers.

[0017] It is another object of this invention to provide an improved vending machine for dispensing containers, including beverage containers, having an elevator assembly with improved stability and reliability.

[0018] It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved vending machine for dispensing containers, having an elevator assembly that is essentially devoid of complex, mechanical moving parts.

[0019] Additional objects of this invention include an improved method of dispensing products from a vending machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The above and related objects are achieved by providing a vending machine having a plurality of racks therein for dispensing products. Each rack within such vending machine has multiple product dispensing racks wherein each rack comprises a vertical, rectilinear channel defined by pairs of opposing, parallel panels or walls. Each channel of each rack has an open end at the top end thereof and a closed end at the bottom end thereof, wherein the closed end includes an elevator assembly for support of product and means for lifting said support within said channel in response to consumer demand for the product. The preferred elevator assembly of this invention comprises a product cradle of unique design, which design imparts improved stability of the cradle within the channel and simplified operation as to the number and type of springs needed to effect its vertical movement within the channel of the dispensing rack. The unique angular slope of the cradle permits presentation of a product selection at the open end of the rack in a manner to facilitate removal of such product by a consumer. Accordingly, the vending machine maintains the containers in an ordered array and displaces such containers from such ordered array, through the open end of the vertical channel of the dispensing rack, in response to a customer selection, without difficulty, notwithstanding that such containers (other than cans) may have a characteristic or generally an “unstackable” shaped indicative of a trade dress or design, (e.g. Coke bottle).

[0021] The angular slope of this cradle is designed to parallel other features within the dispensing rack, notably, the angular silhouette of each of the opposing panels that define the open end of the rack. In the preferred embodiments of this invention, a pair of non-mechanical stops are positioned on such panels to retain a portion of the product container within the dispensing rack, while permitting a portion thereof to extend above the open channel of the rack and thereby render it more accessible for customer access. In the preferred embodiments of this invention, such non-mechanical stop is formed of a resilient deformable material (e.g. natural or synthetic rubber or an equivalent elastomer), and includes means for engagement of a complimentary recess or slot in the opposing panels which define the vertical channel of the product dispensing rack. In the preferred embodiments of this invention, more than one the stop or gate is provided at the open end of each racks within the vending machine, so as to provide equal pressure to each side of the container within the rack and, thus, assist in maintaining the proper orientation of the containers within the rack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved vending machine of this invention.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of the elevator assembly of the improved vending machine of this invention.

[0024]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view, in isolation, of a cradle of the elevator assembly of the vending machine of this invention.

[0025]FIG. 4A is an enlarged bottom view of the cradle of FIG. 3.

[0026]FIG. 4B is an enlarged top view of the cradle of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The figures which accompany this application, and referenced herein, depict a representative vending machine of this invention. In the embodiments of this invention illustrated in these figures, one or more components of the vending machine may appear in more than one figure. Accordingly, components which are common to more than one figure are assigned a common reference numeral for continuity of description and ease of understanding.

[0028] In FIG. 1, a vending machine (10) is illustrated comprising a cabinet (12) having three dimensions, including a top (14), a bottom (16) and four sides (front (17), back (18), left side (19) and right side (not shown). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the top (14) of the cabinet is provided with a hinged access door (20) to permit opening of the cabinet (12) to gain access to its contents. The access door (20) is shown in the locked or closed position. A latch (22) is associated with the top (14) of the cabinet (12) to disengage the access door (20) and thereby permit release and opening thereof. The specific design of this vending machine (10) is intended for use in a retail establishment, wherein the customer makes his product selection independent of merchant assistance, and pays for his product selection, in the conventional manner, at the cash register. A coin operated mechanism (not shown) can be substituted for the latch (22) in stand-alone vending machines contemplated for use independent of a retail establishment.

[0029] The cabinet design of the preferred embodiment of vending machine of this invention is asymmetrical in that the rear (18) of the cabinet is somewhat taller than the front (17) of the cabinet. This design choice is dictated by the inclination of a product support cradle (24) positioned within the vertical channel of the product dispenser rack assembly (25), shown in FIG. 2, specifically, the slope of the supporting surface of product cradle (24) within the dispenser rack (26). In the embodiments of the vending machine illustrated in FIG. 2, the cabinet (12) houses an array of product dispensing racks (26), each capable of storage and dispensing different product containers. Thus, upon opening the access door (20) of the cabinet (12), the consumer simply makes his product selection by removal of the desired product from the open end (28) of a given dispenser rack (26). As a product is removed from a given dispenser rack (26), the product cradle (24) is urged upward by a coiled metal band (30) positioned relative to the underside of such cradle (24). The removal of a single product container allows for upward movement of the cradle (24), and thereby replacement of the product container removed by the consumer at the open end (28) of the dispenser rack (26).

[0030]FIG. 3 provides an enlarged view of the cradle (24) separate and apart from the elevator assembly (27) shown in FIG. 2. The cradle (24) comprises four basic components: a base (32) having a planar element (34), a substantially elongated forward support block (36), a substantially elongated rear support block (38); and a slope component (40), which is inclined from the horizontal plan of the planar element (34) of the base (32). The preferred angle of inclination is anywhere from about 10 to about 30 degrees, and most preferably, from about 15 to about 25 degrees; and, means for mounting and guiding (42) the cradle (24) within the vertical channel of the dispensing rack (26). The base (32) is preferably formed from a single piece of material (e.g. injection molded plastic). The geometry and physical integrity of the base is relatively massive to both support the stack of product and resist torsional and bending forces experienced incident to its use. The base (32) is dimensioned relative to the width of channel so as to lend additional dimensional support to the cradle by the channel. As above noted, the rear support block (38) is modified by provision of slot (42) for mounting to a ribbon spring (30). In FIG. 2, the ribbon spring (30) is shown under tension, specifically, in an extended position above the cradle (24) secured by rivet means (29) to the dispenser rack assembly (25), and in a free floating coiled or relaxed position below the cradle. When the dispensing rack is empty, the cradle (24) is at the top of the vertical channel of the dispensing rack (26). In practice the vending machine is stocked by inserting containers into the dispenser rack (26) from the open end (28) thereof. The incremental addition of each container forces the cradle (24) down into the channel defined by the opposing panels (44, 44′) of the dispensing rack (26). The containers are retained within the vertical channel of the rack by one or more stops (46, 46′) mounted on the opposing panels (44, 44′) which define the open end (28) of the rack (26). When the rack is fully loaded, the cradle (24) is forced to bottom of the channel of the rack (26), and ribbon spring fully extended. Conversely, when a product container is removed or dispensed from the open end (28) of the rack, the force of the spring lifts the cradle upward until the next container at the top of the rack is positioned in a dispensing position. As noted above, the stops (46, 46′) on the panels (44, 44′) at the open end (28) of the rack restrict the open end of the vertical channel so as to prevent the top container in the rack from release without additional force, e.g. sufficient to overcome the restraining influence of the stops.

[0031]FIG. 4A depicts the cradle of FIG. 3 from below; and FIG. 4B depicts the cradle of FIG. 3 from above. These figures emphasize the dimensional characteristics of the cradle (24), specifically, the width of the front (36) and rear (38) support blocks relative to the container support dimensions of the cradle, and, relative to the width of the product containment channel of the dispensing rack. More specifically, the enlarged ends of the cradle essentially conform to the width of the channel, defined by opposing panels (44, 44′) (shown in phantom lines in FIGS. 4A and 4B) and the front and rear walls of the dispenser rack assembly (25), thereby gaining lateral support for the cradle from such channel. Moreover, the symmetry of such blocks relative to one another also provides inherent stability to the cradle itself, and, thus, to the stack of products supported by it.

[0032] As noted above, the open end (28) of the product dispenser rack (26) is provided with a pair of stops (46, 46′) to restrict the open end (28) of the rack (26) and retain the product container within the open end (28) of the rack (26) until selected/removed by a consumer. Each member of this pair of stops (46, 46′) comprises a resilient material having sufficient physical mass and rigidity to resist the upward forces on the container by forces exerted on the underside of the cradle and thereby provide a physical obstruction to the movement of the container through the open end (28) of the rack (26). Enhanced consumer access to product containers is accomplish by a combination of a cradle design and asymmetric placement of stops (46, 46′) on the opposing panels (44, 44′) which define the vertical channel of the dispenser rack (26). More specifically, each member of the pair of stops (46, 46′) is positioned relative to one another at the open end (28) of the vertical channel of the dispensing rack (26), to restrict the opening of the channel, at the open end (28) thereof, and to thereby retain a portion of the container within the dispenser rack.

[0033] The invention as described above is illustrative of a number of the preferred embodiments of this invention. This description is neither intended, nor should it be construed, to delineate the scope of this invention which has been reserved for the claims that follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. In a vending machine for dispensing product from a plurality of vertical product dispensing racks housed therein, wherein product is dispensed from each such product racks in response to customer demand by incrementally removal of product from an open end at the top of said rack, wherein the improvement comprising: an elevator assembly comprising a cradle, spring means and means for mounting said cradle to said spring means within a vertical channel of said product dispensing rack, said cradle comprising a slope member for support of said product container, said slope member being inclined from the horizontal, and operatively associated with a base to support and guide said cradle within said vertical channel of said dispensing rack upon lifting of said cradle by said spring means within said vertical channel.
 2. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein said base member comprising a planar component integral with an essentially elongated block associated with the underside of said planar surface, said block being dimensioned relative to a cross-section of said vertical channel of said dispensing rack so as to position and maintain said cradle support within said vertical channel as to permit dispensing of said container from an open end of said vertical channel.
 3. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a ribbon spring.
 4. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination of said support member in the range of from about 10 to 30 degrees.
 5. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination of said slope member is in the range of from about 15 to 25 degrees.
 6. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein each of said base and product support components of said cradle are integral with one another, having been formed as a unit.
 7. A product support cradle for support of a beverage container within an vertical channel of a product dispensing rack of a vending machine, said cradle comprising: A. Cradling means having an inclined member for support of a container regardless of container configuration, and B. A base member, said inclined member of said cradling means having an angle of inclination of from about 10 to about 30 relative to said base, and being essentially open-ended along said inclination for cradle support of said container; and said base member comprising a planar surface component integral with an essentially elongated block associated with the underside of said planar surface, said block being essentially integral with said planar surface and dimensioned relative to a cross-section of a vertical channel of said dispensing rack to position and maintain said cradle support within said vertical channel as to permit dispensing of said container from an open end of said vertical channel; and C. Means for mounting said support means of said cradle to a resilient lifting member of an elevator assembly within said vertical channel of a product dispensing rack of vending machine.
 8. The product support cradle of claim 7, wherein the angle of inclination of said inclined member is in the range of from about 10 to 30 degrees.
 9. The product support cradle of claim 7, wherein the angle of inclination of said inclined member is in the range of from about 15 to 25 degrees.
 10. The product support cradle of claim 7, wherein each of said base and product support components of said cradle are integral with one another, having been formed as a unit. 